Universal needle threader



June 1953 J. 5. KAHN 2,643,038

UNIVERSAL NEEDLE THREADER Filed Dec. 12. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 3

' IIM IQ!!! Silt Fig. 8

\ INVENTOR.

50 Julian Seth Kahn 65 zbm ATTORNEY.

June 23, 1953 J. s. KAHN 2,643,038

UNIVERSAL NEEDLE THREADER Filed Dec. 12. 1949 s Sheets-Sheet s Fig. 24 I500 o F lg. 27

1 :54 I8 HQ LI52 l) N Fig. 26 Q HIIIIII INVENTOR. Julian Sefh Kahn g WM A T TORNE Y.

Patented June 23, 1953 "UNITED PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL NEEDLE THREADER liJiuliansethi'Kahn, NewYork; N, Y.

-lApiilica'tioiiDeoefiiber 12, 1949, Serial No. 132,451

11 'Ithisinventi'on relates toa needle threader for threading sewing machine"needles, hand-sewing needles, lacing'heedles;and'the like.

The principal object of'this "invention isthe provision of a comprehensive type .of needle threader which ;is" adapted tothread virtually every "kind of sewing" needle, including needles used on sewingrnach'in'es, liand='sewing"'needles, lacingneedles, and .the like. Many needle threaders or thejprioriart are" adapted"'for"use "in" conne'ction with; certain. types of "sewingi'needleshbut not other "types. "For "example, some needle threaders a1'e"useful for" threading" hand-sewing needles," but" not for threading '"maohineneedles, andothers may be used to ithreadsewin machine needles, but not" hand sewing needles. "The presentf'device ."may"'be" used'to'thread virtually everyitype 01' sewingfneedle, used either industria lly orin thehome.

"Anotherjprincipal object of this invention is the provisioniof a needle thread'er 'ior' threading sewing machine needles, said needle 'threader being provided withme'ans for automatically finding the'needle eye. Satisfactory sewing maehine needle threadershavenot'heretofore been devised. Those thatare inuse require that the operator himself locate the eye-of the needle; and although" it easierfto findtheeye with the needle threader thanwith the thread itself; still the difficulty remains, especially ineases where the operators eyesight is impaired and his "hand is not quite steady.

Conventional sewing "machine needlesare; provided with longitudinal grooves which communicate with the needles eye. The present needle threader takes advantage of this longitudinal groove for the purpose of finding the needles eye, though, as will bennderstood, the groove is not essential to the successful operation of my needle threader. The needle threaderof 'the present invention is providedwith' a spring-urged thread-engaging barb which enters the longitudinal groove oi"the"needle' without any 'difiioulty whatsoever. It then follows the-groove direc'tly toward the eye'of the needle and the'spring tension which actuates it causesitto' springor snap through the eyeautomatically. "This may cause" an audible click which would apprise even a blind operator that'the barb has 'entered'the eye and'is ready to receive" the thread. The thread'may then be placed upon" the barb and the'ba'rb' retractedthrough theholeof the needle and the" threading operation is completed.

"A'-further object of this invention is the provision of a needle threader'ofthe "character "de- 14 'Gl'aims. (Cl. 223-99) sorib'ed vvhi'ch "is provided with a" 'througif'needle hole into which the needle maybe inserted'to properly position the"'needlethreader relative to theneedle. Once this is" donefthe "rest is a relatively's'implematter; since a spring-urgedbarb is"provided, ashas above been indicatedfto "ride against the needle directlyinto' the*nee'dle"s"eye. "Stillanothe1"'objeotof this invention is the provision ofa sewing" machine. needle threader'of the ehara'cterdeseribe'd which is made" of only few simple inoldedpartsf a wire or stampedba'rb *mernber, an; a tension member which" engages said barb"member -andurgesit into'engagement with the "needle, and 'more particularly, the needleeye.

A stilhfur'ther object of this invention is' the provision of a needle threader of the character desoribed'whichds provided with a" spring-urged or "otherwise "yieldingly urged thread-engaging barb and a holder for said barb, said holder being. sodevi'sed thatwhen"it is grasped by the person intending "to usethe device; the "barb is"auto- 'matioa-lly retracted to inoperative position against the'actiorrpf the "yieldinginea-ns. More specifically, the holder comprises two relatively movable parts,"which-are providedwith cooperating cam faces. It is these carnuaeeswhich the fingers of the ""operato1'-"engagewhen the needle threader'is grasped for "use. The very actbf engagement of the fingers withsaidcam faces while exerting very light pressure'- issufiicient tomovethe two parts "of" the holderapart and to cause retractionof the'b'a'rb.

The problems involved in threadingamachine needle anddnthreadinga hand-sewing needle arequitedifiereht. A 'handneedle has the point at one end and its eye on the other-end. 1 It-is a' free needle and must beheld in one hand while being threaded,- the thread --'-being held in the other h'and. When'a threader *is -used; it is held in one-hand and the hand --needle is "de osited in a needle well *or -hole-in the threader, thus to be supported and held-while the-otherhand manipulates the thread.

"Withunachine needlesfthe'eye-"and the point are-both on the same en'd' and the needle itseIf is" anchored and securely held in the sewing ma- "chine while "being threaded. Thus it is not necessary to manually support the machine needle, and a threaderimayte manipulated. by unencumbered hands. "Besidesthe eye.ofa'ma chine needle is in a fixed position relative to'the (Operator.

InApr eviOus attempts to make needle threaders formachine needles, a groove was provided in one end of a threader, the groove being more or less complementary to the needle surface and the threader was pushed against the side of the needle in order to push the barb or hook of one kind or another through the eye of the needle. Nothing could support the needle threader but the hand of the operator. Should the hand waver or shake, the barb, which necessarily was a very thin material, would be bent or deformed out of shape and frequently broken. Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a needle threader which is suitable for threading both machine needles and hand needles, and which, when used on machine needles, completely encompasses or surrounds the needle to effectively find the needle eye and as effectively thread the needle.

A preferred form of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the machine-needle threading portion of the needle threader herein claimed.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a front end view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of two of the three molded parts of said device, one of the parts being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a view of a barb member, including the spring which is mounted thereon.

Fig. 6 shows said device mounted on a sewing machine needle, the barb being shown in partly retracted position and riding along the needle, the front end of the needle threader being partly broken away and in section to show the relationship of the barb to the needle.

Fig. '7 is a sectional view on the line l---'! of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6, but showing the barb projecting through the eye of the needle.

Fig. 8a is a fragmentary and partially diagrammatic view, showing a machine needle in section, with a barb projecting through the eye.

Fig. 9 is another view similar to that of Fig. 6, showing the barb once again in retracted position, after having drawn the thread through the eye of the needle.

Fig. 10 is another view similar to Fig. 6, showing the threader withdrawn from the needle and pulling the bight of thread through the needle eye preparatory to releasing the thread.

Fig. 11 is an exploded view similar to Fig. 4, but showing a modification.

Fig. 12 is a rear end view thereof.

Fig. 13 is a view of a modified form of dart member and slide for use in the modification shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the outer casing of the threading member shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17, said casing including a hand-needleengaging seat which coacts with the threading facilities of said needle threading member for hand-sewing-needle threading purposes.

Fig. 15 is an elevationa1 view showing the casing mounted on the threading member, the handneedle-engaging seat being held in inoperative position relative to the needle threading means.

Fig. 16 is a similar view showing the handneedle-engaging seat in operative position'relative to the needle threading'means.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line l'|l1 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary top View, partly in section, of the needle threader with an added feature of adjustable jaw means for engaging needles of larger diameter than the conventional type.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary top view thereof showing the adjustable needle-engaging means in partly retracted position to accommodate a needle of relatively large diameter.

Fig. 20 is a side view thereof, partly broken away and in vertical section, taken on line 20-20 of Fig. 18.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modification.

Fig. 22 is a plan view of a modified form of threader for machine needles, wherein no spring is used.

Fig. 23 is an elevational view thereof.

Fig. 24 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 25 is an elevational view of one-half the body member shown in Figs. 22, 23, and 24, before assembly.

Fig. 26 is an elevational view of the barb threading member used in this modification.

Fig. 2'7 is a side elevation of still a further modification of a threader for machine needles.

Fig. 28 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 29 is a plan view of one-half the body member shown in Fig. 28, before assembly.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the barb threading member used in the modification shown in Fig. 28.

Needle threader 20 shown in Figs. 1417, comprises a threading member body 2| and a casing or housing 22. Casing 22, as will shortly become apparent, includes means for cooperating with the needle threader body for threading hand-sewing needles.

Needle threader body 2| comprises the following principal elements; a needle-engaging barb member 25, a spring 26 which maintains the barb member under tension and tends to urge it into needle-engaging position, a body 21 in which said barb member is slidably mounted and which occommodates the spring 26, and a finger piece 28 in which the back end of the barb member is embedded. Actually, the body 21 comprises a pair of molded members 210. and 2'"), respectively, which are cemented or otherwise affixed to each other. The finger piece 28 comprises a solid molded member. The barb member 25 may be a U-shaped member having a pair of legs 25a and 25b, respectively, and a yoke 250 which joins said legs at their respective back ends. A barb or hook 29 is formed at the forward end of leg 25a and a smaller barb or hook 30 is formed at the forward end of leg 25b. It will be noted that these two barbs or hooks are turned inwardly and toward each other. slidably mounted on leg 25b is compression coil spring 26, and a stop 3! is provided on said leg to prevent the spring from moving forwardly beyond a pre-determined point. This stop may comprise a fiattened or swaged portion on leg 25b, intermediate its ends.

A groove a is formed in body block 21a to accommodate the greater part of leg 25a of the barb member and a second groove 35b is also formed in said body block to accommodate the greater part of leg 25b. A U-shaped groove 35c is formed in finger piece molding 28 to accommodate the yoke and the adjoining portions of legs 25a and 25b, the lower leg of said groove being large enough to permit the passage therethrough 'of stop 3| and spring 26 when the U-shaped barb member 25 is entered into and extended through said groove 350 in the finger piece. Groove 35b is enlarged intermediate its ends to forma-recess 36ctoaccommodatezspring and swaged portion 3|. .It will be understood that molded block 21b :is also provided. with grooves corresponding to grooves a, and 35b, and with a recess corresponding to recess 36. Hence, when members Zl'aand-Zlb are fastened together to form body 27, said body isadapted .to house the barb member 25, including its swaged portion 3| and spring 26. the legs of the barb member 25 on the one hand and grooves 35d and35b on the other hand, so that relative movement between'the barb member'andbody 21 may take place... This may be seeninFigs. 6, 8, and 9.. The yokeportionof barb member 25 and the adjoiningportions'of the leg members are firmly fixed, however, in finger piece 28. Hence, whenthefinger piece is moved relative to body 21,.relative:movement between the barb member 25 and body 21 takes place. When the finger piece and body 21 are pulled'apart, barb member 25 is brought into re-- tracted position against the action of spring 26. When'finger piece 28-is released, spring 26 will act upon the barb member to move it forwardly to operative position and by the same token the finger piece will be moved toward and into abutment with body 21'.

To facilitate retraction of the barb member, body 2l is provided with cam faces a and b;

respectively, and the finger piece 28 is provided will tend to cause finger piece 28 to move backwardly and away from body 21. When the cam faces are released, finger piece 28 will spring back into abutment with body 21 in response to the action of spring 26 upon the barb member 25 to which said finger piece is connected.

It will be seen in Fig. 4. that a recess 45a. is

formed in housing block 21a at the approach to.

groove 35d and a second recess 46a is formed at the approach to groove 35b. Corresponding recesses are formed in body block 211) and when the two blocks are fastened'together said recesses are in registration with each other to form recesses 45 and 48, respectively, shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 9. These recesses 45 and 46 are large enough to accommodate barbs 29 and 30, respectively, as Fig. 6 clearlyshows. At the forward end of body block 21a is a vertically extending groove 4817. having a flattened or countersunk upper end portion 90,. This groove 480. with its countersunk approach finds its counterpartin bodyblock 21b and when the two blocks are fastened together, a vertical hole 48 is thereby formed having a countersunk opening 49. This hole 18 communicates with the grooves in which leg 25b of barb member 25' is slidably disposed.

cally through and across hole 48into'the space,

5| beyond said hole. As a .matterof fact, the

forward end 50a of .body'memberila .is provided.- a .1 recess 5 I a.. directly: opposite groove 351).;

There is a sliding fit between and J recess 45a. body block 21b and when'the two body members 21a and 21b arebrought together, their respective forward ends 50a form forward end portion 55 of the :body, and their respective recesses 5|aenter intoregistration with each other to formrecess 51.. Recess 5| receives barb 30 when'the barb member 25 is in its forwardmost position.

(See Figs. 2 and 8.) a

Hole48is adapted to receive sewing machine needle 55Pandits countersunk approach 49 facilitates entry of said-needle into said hole. Sewings machine needle 55 is 'a conventional needle and it has an eye 56 formed therein as well as alongitudinal groove 5'! which extends upwardly"- the body of the operator, and above the needle eye, then with the barb projected to ride againsttheneedle, slide the threader downwardly-till the barb snaps into the eye; This is done when the finger piece is in retracted position,- as-witness Fig. 6, and'said'finger'piece is therrreleased. Spring-urged barb 3G will'then move into engagement with'the needle and more par-- If said barb doesnt' ticularly' its groove 51. immediately find the groove, the needle threader may be swung gently from side to side until the groove is found. The spring tension will holdthe needle threader in elevated position relative to the eye of the needle, and downward pressure on the threader is required to bring the barb into registration with said eye. When registration is effected, as stated above, the barb will automatically pass through the eye of the needle and into recess 5|. (See Fig. 8.) Thread 65 may now be looped upon leg 25b of the'barb member and "said barb member may then be retracted to 'itsposition shown in Fig. 9; The thread has now been brought through the eye of the needle and the needle threader may then be slid downwardly 'and removed from said needle, and the barb member once again released. (See Fig. 10.)

The operations aforementioned "may be facilitated by molding the several molded parts as follows: The forward end of body 21 may be tapered upwardly to relatively narrow proportions in the neck area between the main portion of said body 27 and its forward end portion 55. This will facilitate looping the thread about-the barb member 25 as clearly appears from Fig. 8.

Barb ZSmay be utilized for threading a handsewing needle'or any other needle to which the device as above described would not be suited.

Threading member body 2| is slidably mounted in a casing 22 which isshaped. to conform to the shape of the body member. The casing comprises a side --wall 'iicovering one side of the body member, bottom wall 16, top wall H and two inturned flanges '58 and 18a, which lap over an inwardly extending shelf which is providedv with adimple 8| to serve as a needle seat forthe butt ends of hand-sewing needles. This shelf is spaced .from and. parallel. to bottom wall 16.

IllSllOCatiOILils such .as to .bringthe eye of a hand;

A similarrecess is foundin' Allthatneed'be done to locate theneedle in line with the bill of. the threading barb 251 when the butt end of said needle rests on the dimpled seat 8|. There is a slot 19 in body member 21 that accommodates the shelf 80 which slides in said slot. The arrangement is such as to enable the threading member 2I to slide forwardly relative to its casing to its position shown in Fig. 15 or backwardly to its Fig. 16 position. When the threader body is in its forward position (Fig. 15), it may be utilized for threading a sewing machine needle in the manner above described. When it is retracted to its Fig. 16 position, it may be utilized to thread a hand-sewing needle. A finger piece 86 at the back end of casing 22 facilitates moving said casing member and the threader body relative to each other.

, Afl'lxed to the underside of top wall 11 of casing 22 is a tubular member 82 having a slit 83 formed vertically thereof on its wall side. This slit 83 continue upwardly into the top wall 11 in the form of a slit 84 in said top Wall. It will be noted in Fig. 14 that the dimple 81 and said tubular member 82 are in vertical, axial alignment. When the threading member body 2| is in its fully retracted position (Fig. 16) its hole 48 will be in alignment with tubular member 82 and with needle seat dimple BI. Hence, when a needle is inserted butt end downwardly, through tubular member through hole 48 and thence into seat 8| of shelf member 80. The needle may then be threaded in the manner previously described and slits 83 and 84 will serve as passageways for the thread.

Hole 48 is of fixed dimensions and it may be found desirable to provide means to adjust the size of the hole to accommodate needles of greater thicknesses than those commonly used. Needle hole I shown in Fig. 18 is just such adjustable hole as witness the same hole I00a in its expanded condition in Fig. 19. This hole is made adjustable by providing a movable or slidable jaw member IOI which constitutes the rear wall of the hole. This slide is mounted in a recess I02 formed in the body I03 of the needle threader I04 shown in Figs. 18, 19, and 20. A pair of pins I05 and I06 are fastened to slide IOI, and they ride in holes I01 and I08, respectively. A compression spring I09 bears against the main body of the threading member and also against said slide and urges said slide to move forwardly into its Fig. 18 position. Pins I05 and I06 ride in holes I01 and I08 and thereby prevent dislodgement of said slide IOI.

In the modification shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, a stamping IIO may be utilized to take the place of Wire barb member 25. The stamping may be of thin sheet metal of channel crosssection with web III and flanges H2. The web is extended beyond the flanges to provide barb member I having a hook l25a formed at its free end. A recess I I3 is provided for the accommodation of coil spring I26. In order to facilitate assembly of the barb member, the spring and the body parts, means are provided to retain the spring in recess II3. To that end, there are extended from the end walls III of the recess, inreaching lugs II5 which extend into the coil spring I26 at each end thereof, as clearly shown in Fig. 13. The finger piece 28a in this case is provided with through opening I21 shaped to accommodate the rear end I29 of channel III] which extends through said opening. Bendable lugs I30 extending from flanges II2 are received.

in. shouldered recesses I3I of the finger piece.

82, it will project The body member I2I is provided with recess I32 to slidingly receive member I III.

In Figs. 22 to 26, there is shown an extremely simple needle threader for machine needles wherein no spring is required. Body member I50 comprises two halves I50a. and I50b which may be secured together in any convenient mannor to slidingly hold threading barb member I5I. The barb member I5I may be a sheet metal stamping having a stem I52, a handle I53, a hooked end I54 and a stop I55. At least onehalf of body member I50, as for instance, halt I50a, is provided with recess I56 to accommodate threading member I5I, the enlarged portion I61 of the recess being long enough so stop member I55 may abut the ends of the recess portion I51 to limit sliding movement of the threading member I5I in both directions. The threader is otherwise provided with needle hole I58, nose I59, and throat I60 similar to those previously described with respect to the preferred forms. In using the modification just described, it is merely necessary to grasp handle I53 and to withdraw the barb member I5I to clear the needle hole I58. Then slide the body member onto the needle and then by gentle pressure on the handle member, slide the body down on the needle until the barb finds its way into and through the needle eye. Then after looping the thread over the stem I52, the handle is grasped to withdraw the barb from the needle, drawing the thread with it.

In the modification shown in Figs. 27 to 30, the threading barb member and spring are formed of one integral stamping and partakes of some of the advantages of the needle threader disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 107,022, filed July 27, 1949.

The threading barb member comprises a threading barb I15, a finger piece or plunger I16, and a spring I11. The threading barb I15 is bent at right angles from the plane of the plunger or finger piece I16, and has a hook I13. Also bent substantially at right angles to the plane of the plunger I16 is spring root plate I11a which continues upwardly as the spring I11. Spring I11 projects upwardly at an angle from the vertical and it may be bent at its upper end portion to form a curved portion I111). The stamping I14 thus described and best shown in Fig. 30 is mounted in casing shown in Figs. 28 and 29, the spring portion I11 being disposed in the spring chamber I19. The body I is provided with a recess I8I communicating with spring chamber I19, and slidably accommodates the stamping I14, a further groove I82 being provided for the accommodation of the barb I15. The body is further provided with a needle hole I83 which extends through and through the body.

In using this modification, it is merely necessary to press the plunger I16 inwardly so that the barb I15 clears the needle hole I83, then to slide the body member on to the anchored needle. The plunger I16 may then be released and the threader body slid downwardly on the needle until the barb snaps into place through the eye of the needle under the influence of the spring I11. Then after the thread is looped over barb I15, the plunger I16 may again be depressed to withdraw the barb from the eye of the needle, drawing the thread with it.

In Fig. 21, the nose 50a of any of the modifications is shown as having a slit I20 extending from needle holeJBd tothe outer surface of the nose 500' to facilitate passage of the' thread under certain conditions.

' The foregoing is descriptive'ofpreferred forms of this invention; and it will be understood that these .forms may be modified in numerous ways within the broad scope and spiritu'ofthis "in-, vention. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Pa ent, is:

1. A needle :threader" of" the character de scribed, comprising a .bodymember having'arvertical, needle-receiving hole the diameter of. which throughout is at least as great asthe diameter of a needle which is to bethreaded, iormedito extend throughand through'said body member, a needle-engaging barb memberslidably mounted in" said body member for horizontal movement diametrically across said hole and having one end extending out of an? beyond the :body memher, and a finger-piececonnectedto said extending'end of said barb'm'ember'ior'withdrawing, the :barbmember from across said hole;

2. A needle threader of the character" described, comprising a bodymember having'a vertical, needle-receiving:hole'formed therethrough, aneedle-engagingbarb member slidably mounted in said-body member for horizontal movement across said hole, and having 'one'end extending out of and beyond the: body member, a spring Withinsaid 'body member yieldingly projecting said barb memberacros'ssaid hole, and .a'fingerpieceiconnected lto .saidz'extendingnnd of said barb member for'withdrawing the'barb member from the hole against the spring action. and normally abuttingsaid body; saidLfinger-piece and said body member having cooperating'cam faces whichlincline toward the longitudinal medial line of the needle-engaging barbimember and. meet at the :line of. abutment between'said b-ody'meme 1 ber and said finger piece and may be held between a zusers fingers to earn 1 the finger-piece away from the body memben'and thereby to withdraw the barb member from the hole against the springv action.

3. A needle .threaderlin:accordance with claim 2, wherein the "needle-engaging barb member: .is a' U.sh'aped element'fhaving 'a' yoke and two legs, one -leg of which crossesthe needle-receiving hole andahook at the free endoflsaid latter legasaid having a vertical, needle-receiving hole thereinto axial registration with-the needle-receiving hole in the bodyunember' bysliding said'i'sleeve relative to said body member;

5. A universal needle threader suitable for threading selectively sewing machine needles, and hand-sewing needles, said threader including a body member having a vertical hole therethrough for machine needles, a sleeve through which said body member slides, a needle seat carried bythe sle'eveto be interposed across "and to icloses off partof said I vertical hole .and to receive and: support the butt ends of hand-sewing'needles when said housingsleeve is moved to such position; a tneedle-iengagingxbarb member which isslidably mounted in saidbodymember for horizontal. movement across the axis of said hole; and which has one end extending .out of said body member, said barb member being. provided with a fin'ger'piecesecuredto its extending end .for withdrawing the barb member from across said hole.

a universal. needle threader suitable for threading'selectively sewing machine needles, and hand-sewing ineedles', saidthreader including, a body member havinga vertical hole therethrough for :machine needles, a: sleeve through which said body membe'rislides, a needle seat carried byzthe sleeveatoib'einterposed across and to close oiftlpart.of'saidverticai hole and to receive and suppDrtitheibuttxends" of. hand-sewing needles when'saidjsleeve is:moved to such':.position, carrying and presenting an additional needle guide carried'by the sleeveto be presented axially over saidrholefor, greater accuracy in supporting the hand-sewingineedla: and a needle-engaging barb member which isslidably mounted 'in' said body member for horizontal movement across the :axis of said ho1e;;and which has-one endextending out of: said-body member, saidebarbmemberl-being provided with .a'finger-pieceesecured toits extending end for withdrawing the barb member from. across .said 'hole,

'IJA universal needle threader suitable for threading selectively, sewing machine needles,

andwhand-sewing needles; said threader includ ing: a body member-having a vertical holethere--. through formachine needles, a sleeve through which said body'member slides; aineedle seat carried by the sleeveztobe interposed across and tOJClOSB oiirpart of said-vertical holeand to receiveiandrsupport the-butt ends of hand-sewing needles when said sleeve is moved to such position; ,a aneedle-engaging; barb member which is slidably mountedintsaid body member for hori-, zontal movementacross-the axis of said hole, and Which 'has one .endbxtending out of and beyond the body member,"said extending end being provided with a; finger-rpiece" for withdrawing thebarb member from across said hole, saidzfinger piece 'normal'ly'abutting' the :body member; cooperating'camtsurfaces: on the finger piece and the body. member which: cam surfaces incline towardtheflongitudinal medial line of the needle-engagin'gibarbimember:andrmeet at theline of abut-' ment ibetweenrsaid :body member and said finger piecesfor. receiving, the c fingers of an operator so'rthebarb willib'e retracted in the act of squeezing: the finger pie'cerbetween the thumb and forefinger;

8; universal. needle threader suitable for threading selectively sewing machine needles, and hand-sewingneedls, said-threader including-'a'body'm'ember having a vertical holetherethrough for rmachinesneedles; a sleeve through which-said body member s1ides, a needle seat carried by thersleevezto be interposed across and to close off part'of 'said'vertical hole and to receive-iand "supportxthe butt; ends of hand-sewing needles when said sleeve is moved to such position, a needle-engaging barb member which is slidably mounted in said body member for horizontal movement across the axis of said hole and which has one end extending out of said body member, a spring within said body member yield ingly projecting said barb member across said hole, said barb member being provided with a finger piece secured to its extending end for withdrawing the barb member from across said hole, said threader being constructed and arranged to slide upwardly over a machine needle completely embracing the needle, the spring being of such tension as to cause the threader, when the finger piece is released, to ride yieldingly along the needle so the barb may snap into place when it registers with the needle eye.

9. A universal needle threader suitable for threading selectively sewing machine needles, and hand-sewing needles, said threader including a'body member having a vertica1 hole therethrough for machine needles, a sleeve through which said body member slides, a needle seat carried by the sleeve to be interposed across and to close off part of said vertical hole and to receive and support the butt ends of hand-sewing needles when said sleeve is moved to such position, an additional needle guide carried by the sleeve to be presented axially over said hole for greater accuracy in supporting the hand-sewing needle, a needle-engaging barb member which is slidably mounted in said body member for horizontal movement across the axis of said hole and which has one end extending out of said body member, said barb member being provided with a finger piece secured to its extending end for withdrawing the barb member from across said hole, said threader being constructed and arranged to slide upwardly over a machine needle completely embracing the needle, a spring within said body member yieldingly projecting said barb member across said hole, the spring being of such tension as to cause the threader, when the finger piece is released, to ride yieldingly along the needle so the barb may snap into place when the barb registers with the needle eye.

10. A universal needle threader suitable for threading selectively sewing machine needles, and hand-sewing needles, said threader including a body member having a vertical hole therethrough for machine needles, a sleeve through which said body member slides, a needle seat carried by the sleeve to be interposed across and to close ofi part of said vertical hole and to receive and support the butt ends of hand-sewing needles when said sleeve is moved to such position, a needle-engaging barb member which is slidably mounted in said body member for horizontal movement across the axis of said hole, and which has one end extending out of and beyond the body member, said extending end being provided with a finger piece for withdrawing the barb member from across said hole, said finger piece normally abutting the body member, cooperating cam surfaces on the finger piece and the body member which cam surfaces incline toward the longitudinal medial line of the needleengaging barb member and meet at the line of abutment between said body member and said finger piece for receiving the fingers of an operator so the barb will be retracted in the act of squeezing the finger piece between the thumb and forefinger, said threader being constructed and arranged to slide upwardly over a machine needle completely embracing the needle, a spring within said body member yieldingly projecting said barb member across said hole, the spring being of such tension as to cause the threader, when the finger piece is released, to ride yieldingly along the needle so the barb may snap into place when the barb registers with the needle eye.

11. A needle threader of the character described, comprising a body member having a vertical, needle-receiving hole formed therethrough, a needle-engaging barb member slidably mounted in said body member for horizontal movement across said hole, means to yieldingly project the barb, and a finger-piece connected to said barb member for withdrawing the barb member from the hole against the action of said yielding means, said finger-piece and said body member having cooperating cam faces which incline toward the longitudinal medial line of the needle-engaging barb member and meet at the line of abutment between said body member and said finger piece, and which may be held between a users fingers to cam the finger-piece away from the body member, and thereby to withdraw the barb member from the hole.

12. A needle threader of the character described, comprising a sleeve, a body member slidably mounted in said sleeve and having a vertical, needle-receiving hole therethrough, a needle-engaging barb member slidably mounted in said body member for horizontal movement across the axis of said hole, means to yieldingly project the barb, and a finger-piece connected to said barb member for retracting the barb member from across the hole against the action of said yielding means.

13. A needle threader in accordance with claim 12, wherein the sleeve is provided with a needle seat which may be brought into axial registration with the needle-receiving hole in the body member by sliding said body member relative to said sleeve.

14. A needle threader of the character described, comprising a needle-receiving member having a, needle-receiving hole formed to extend through and through said member, the diameter of said hole being throughout at least as great as the diameter of a needle which is to be threaded, a needle-engaging barb member slidably mounted relative to said needle-receiving member for movement diametrically across said hole, a spring within said member for yieldingly projecting said barb member across said hole, and, a finger-piece connected to said barb member for withdrawing the barb member from the hole against the spring action.

JULIAN SETH KAHN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 524,896 Goldman Aug. 21, 1894 2,006,185 Sidler June 25, 1935 2,311,665 Kah-n Feb. 23, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,462 Sweden Jan. 5, 1894 11,241 Great Britain 1885 

